Current noise spectrum of a single particle emitter: theory and experiment

TL;DR

This paper combines theoretical and experimental approaches to analyze the finite-frequency noise spectrum of a single-electron emitter, providing insights into its operation and noise characteristics.

Contribution

It presents a comprehensive comparison of Floquet scattering theory and a semi-classical model for noise analysis in a mesoscopic capacitor-based single-electron emitter.

Findings

Excellent agreement between experiment and theory.

The noise spectrum characterizes the emitter's performance.

Analytic description of noise sources under optimal conditions.

Abstract

The controlled and accurate emission of coherent electronic wave packets is of prime importance for future applications of nano-scale electronics. Here we present a theoretical and experimental analysis of the finite-frequency noise spectrum of a periodically driven single electron emitter. The electron source consists of a mesoscopic capacitor that emits single electrons and holes into a chiral edge state of a quantum Hall sample. We compare experimental results with two complementary theoretical descriptions: On one hand, the Floquet scattering theory which leads to accurate numerical results for the noise spectrum under all relevant operating conditions. On the other hand, a semi-classical model which enables us to develop an analytic description of the main sources of noise when the emitter is operated under optimal conditions. We find excellent agreement between experiment and theory. Importantly, the noise spectrum provides us with an accurate description and characterization of the mesoscopic capacitor when operated as a periodic single electron emitter.